Garment hanger with spring clips



March 7, 9 P. A. A. BEETLESTONE ETAL 295459717 GARMENT HANGER WITHSPRING 'CLIPS Filed March 19, 1947 Fig. 5,

INVENTORS PERC/VAL ALFRED ALEXANDER BEEHESTO/VE HEM/Z I I/ERNEK GORDONPatented Mar. 27, 1951 2,546,717 GARMENT HANGER WITH SPRING CLIPSPercival Alfred Alexander Beetlestone and Heinz Werner Gordon, Hatfield,England, assignors to said Gordon Application March 19, 1947, Serial No.735,570 In Great Britain June 13, 1946 2 Claims.

This invention relates to spring clips and concerns more particularly aspring clip which can be used in the manner of a clothes peg forsuspending articles of clothing and similar articles.

A spring clip according to the present invention comprises two armspivotally mounted about a fulcrum pin arranged in the, neighbourhood ofthe centre of the arms, which on one side of the fulcrum pin are formedwith serrated jaws, and on the other side are divergent, one from theother, the serrated jaws being normally biassed together by a springanchored on the outer surface of each arm on one side of the pivotpoint, and passing through each arm on the other side of the pivotpoint.

Preferably the spring in the form of a wire is substantially circular inelevation and is secured to each arm by being sprung into a recess ordimple therein, the arms. also being slotted to allow the spring wire topass therethrough.

Preferably the slots in the arms are positioned on the same centre lineas the anchorages for the spring wire, so as to prevent sidewaysmovement of the arms so that the serrated jaws cannot come out ofalignment.

A spring clip constructed, in accordance with this invention isparticularly suitable for use in the suspension and stretching ofgarments, such for example, as trousers, skirts and the like.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure1 is a front elevation and Figure 2 a vertical section of the clip,whilst Figure 3 shows in elevation an arrangement of clips for thesuspension and stretching of garments.

Referrin to Figures 1 and 2 the clip comprises two arms I, 2, which arepivotally mounted about a fulcrum pin 3 which is arranged in theneighbourhood of the centre of the arms I, 2. Below the pin 3 the armsare formed with serrated jaws 4 and above the pin the arms I, 2, aredivergent one from the other. The jaws 4 are normally biassed togetherby a spring in the form of a wire 5 which is secured to each arm I 2 bybein sprung into a dimple B therein, the spring wire 5 passing throughslots 1 in the arms I, 2. The slots 1 are positioned on the same centreline as the anchorages for the spring wire 5, thereby preventingsideways movement of the arms I, 2 so that the jaws 4 are maintained inalignment.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 3, wherein like parts are given thesame reference numeral, the fulcrum pin is in the form of a rod 8 onwhich two spring clips as shown in Figures 1 and 2 are mounted, the rodbeing provided with a hook 9 by means of which it can be suspended,

are attached to the bottoms of the trousers and slid on the fulcrum pinuntil they are so distanced apart from one another that the bottoms ofthe trousers are stretched. The spring clips will remain securely inthat stretched position by reason of the fact that the increased tensionof the spring, caused when the clip is opened and clipped over thetrouser bottoms, also automatically greatly increases the grip of theclip on the fulcrum pin or rod, thereby preventing any slipping back ofthe clips, whilst rotation of the clips is prevented by the flange I 0.It will of course be appreciated that the remaining portions of thetrousers han from the clips below the suspension rod. Similarly a skirtmay be suspended and stretched.

What we claim is:

1. A clothing hanger and stretcher, comprising an elongated supportingrod, at least two spring clips mounted on said rod, each of said springclips comprising a pair of opposed members having substantiallycentrally disposed bearing surfaces for pivotal engagement around saidrod, complementary jaws formed on each of said members, a split springring encircling said rod adjacent each pair of opposed members with theopposite ends of said rings in tensioned engagement with respectiveopposed members at points which are eccentric with respect to the axisof said rod to normally urge the jaws of each pair together, andsimultaneously efi'ect frictional engagement of the bearing surfaces ofsaid opposed members with said rod, the separation of said jaws actingupon said spring rings to cause a binding of said bearing surfaces onsaid rod and prevent displacement of said opposed members on said rod, alongitudinally extending rib on one side of said rod adapted to beengaged by said opposed members to limit rotation thereof on said rod,and means for suspending said rod.

2. A clothing hanger and stretcher as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidopposed members are provided with registering transverse slots toreceive the. bodies of respective spring rings, the opposite ends ofsaid rings engaging complementary indentations in the outer faces ofrespective opposed members.

PERCIVAL ALFRED ALEXANDER BEETLESTONE. HEINZ WERNER GORDON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS- Number Name Date 104,720 Farrington June 28, 1870175,478 Marshall Mar. 28, 1876 1,447,083 Jonas Feb. 27, 1923 1,489,923Budd Apr. 8, 1924 2,455,258 Levitin Nov. 30, 1948

